Luna the firefly wasn't excited about bedtime. Usually, she loved zooming around Meadowsweet Field with her friends, blinking her light as brightly as she could. But tonight, her light felt…flickery. Not bright and happy, but small and wobbly. She told her mama, “I just can’t seem to *settle* tonight!” Mama Firefly smiled gently. “Sometimes, little one, our minds get too busy. It’s like a jar full of buzzing bees. We need to find a quiet place *inside* ourselves to let the bees calm down.”
“A quiet place?” Luna tilted her head. “Where is that?” Mama Firefly led Luna to a soft patch of clover. “Close your eyes, Luna. And imagine you’re floating on a fluffy cloud. It’s a warm, gentle cloud, and it’s carrying you higher and higher above Meadowsweet Field. You can see all your friends down below, getting ready for sleep. But up here, it’s peaceful and quiet.”
Luna closed her eyes and tried to imagine the cloud. It was hard at first. Her mind kept thinking about the game of hide-and-seek she’d played earlier, and whether she’d blinked enough times to win. “The bees are still buzzing, Mama,” she whispered. “I can’t find the quiet place.”
“That’s okay,” Mama Firefly said. “Let’s try something. Take a deep breath in, like you’re smelling the sweetest flower in the field. Hold it for a moment…and then slowly, slowly, let it out, like you’re gently blowing bubbles.” Luna did as she was told. She breathed in, and she breathed out. With each breath, she noticed the buzzing in her mind getting a little quieter.
“Now,” Mama Firefly continued, “imagine your breath is a gentle wave washing over the shore. In…and out…smooth and calm. Each wave carries away a little bit of worry, a little bit of busyness, a little bit of everything that’s making your light flicker.” Luna kept breathing, picturing the waves. She imagined the waves washing away her thoughts about hide-and-seek, and about whether she’d remembered to thank Old Man Turtle for his wise advice.
As she breathed, Luna started to notice other things. She could hear the soft chirping of crickets, and the gentle rustling of leaves. She could feel the soft clover beneath her. These sounds weren’t bothersome; they were…peaceful. Her light began to glow a little brighter. “I think…I think the bees are starting to quiet down,” she said.
“Good,” Mama Firefly said. “Now, think of something you’re grateful for. Something that makes your light shine. It could be anything – a kind friend, a beautiful flower, a warm hug.” Luna thought about her mama, and how much she loved her. She thought about the fun she had with her friends. A warm feeling spread through her, and her light shone even brighter.
“Now, Luna,” Mama Firefly said softly, “keep breathing deeply, and keep thinking happy thoughts. Your quiet place is always inside you, waiting for you to find it. You can visit it anytime you feel busy or worried.” Luna continued to breathe, her light glowing steadily. She felt calm and peaceful, and ready for sleep. She snuggled close to her mama. “Thank you, Mama,” she whispered. “I found my quiet place.”
Mama Firefly kissed Luna’s head. “Sweet dreams, little one. Remember, even the brightest lights need a little quiet time to rest and recharge.” And as Luna drifted off to sleep, her light shone softly, a beacon of peace in the darkness of Meadowsweet Field. She knew that whenever her mind felt busy, she could always close her eyes, take a deep breath, and find her way back to her quiet place.